Bill Belichick’s reasons for leaving go beyond simply surpassing Don Shula’s records.

By saying goodbye to the NFL and accepting a coaching position at the University of North Carolina, Belichick, now 72, has likely put to rest any speculation about his desire to become the winningest coach in NFL history.

His legacy in the NFL is already secure, marked by the six Super Bowl rings he earned during his 24 years with the New England Patriots and an additional two as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

He also has a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame awaiting him.

This surprising turn of events—a five-year contract with a salary that may be significantly lower than the $22 million he earned with the Patriots—fits Belichick’s style perfectly.

Many, including key players from his Patriots roster, were skeptical about whether he would actually take the job after reports surfaced that he interviewed for the position last week.

It’s notable that six of the seven NFL teams searching for coaches did not interview Belichick after last season.

Now, he is set for Chapel Hill.

Belichick could have waited for the NFL’s hiring season to really kick off in a few weeks, especially with three teams already looking for new head coaches this season, but he chose not to face potential rejection from the NFL again. Besides, teams that have openings should have expressed interest by now.

Belichick’s prospects for returning to the NFL may have been further complicated by his expectation of having complete control over football operations, including the personnel department. This demand can deter many franchises. It’s uncertain how much he would be willing to compromise on this if given an NFL job, which might depend on the specific team and its existing leadership, but that’s not a concern anymore.

It’s fitting that if Belichick were to take a college position, it would be at UNC, where his father, Steve, served as an assistant coach during the early 1950s while Bill was a child.

Steve Belichick spent 33 years as an assistant coach and scout at Navy, where Bill developed his love for football.

All these years later, Belichick has stated, as mentioned in a UNC announcement, “I have always wanted to coach in college.”

Believe it or not, Belichick is officially a Tar Heel. It’s unusual, but it’s true.

This move is undoubtedly a significant blow to the NFL, not merely linked to the buzz surrounding Belichick aiming to break Shula’s record as the winningest coach ever. With 31 playoff wins, Belichick holds the record for postseason victories, but his total of 333 wins falls short of Shula’s by 15. In regular-season wins, he also trails Shula with 302 compared to Shula’s 328.

Now, unless something unexpected happens, Shula’s records remain intact.

It’s about appearances too—if someone with six Super Bowl rings (or eight in total) can’t get another chance to coach, it raises many eyebrows.

In any case, Belichick’s departure from the NFL sends a clear message: football still comes first.

His desire to coach outweighs the ambition to chase records. While he has never claimed that pursuing records was his primary motivation, his successful career naturally brought him into the conversation about record-breaking.

Now we have clarity on his priorities.

Admittedly, the college football landscape has transformed significantly, leading Belichick to envision creating a program that could serve as a pipeline to the NFL. With name, image, and likeness deals now common, college football is becoming increasingly akin to the professional game.

However, as Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Julian Edelman discussed on Fox’s pregame show, imagining Belichick recruiting high school seniors is a challenge.

Nevertheless, let’s not underestimate the players or Belichick himself—UNC is likely hoping to attract top talent wanting to be mentored by a coach with Belichick’s accolades. Just look at Colorado, revitalized by “Coach Prime,” also known as Deion Sanders, as evidence of that potential.

How well Belichick connects with a younger audience may raise additional questions. Still, he has dealt with players that were about 50 years younger than him in his last few classes at the Patriots. Winning will certainly help him relate to his players, and he will likely have a support system for addressing other crucial aspects of their lives like academics and personal development.

Ultimately, Belichick will be assessed in college by the same standards—by the performance on the field and the wins and losses.

While pursuing Shula’s records may no longer be a possibility for Belichick, he will need to focus on competing against teams like Duke, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, and others in the ACC.